The Black Hawks

This was such a good read! I have been on the fantasy and 'group of misfits' hype for a while now and this was perfect! I loved the plot, both action-packed and chaotic. The characters were easy to love and the world-building really drew me in! I highly recommend this to fans of Brandon Sanderson and fantasy-lovers. I wish I had the paperback version now to treasure with me! :)

I really enjoyed this book. It's dark with some humour that at times has you laughing out loud. I was gutted by the cliffhanger ending, as I now have a long wait to catch up with Chel and the gang again.
The Black Hawks are a motley bunch of mercenaries on a mission, and Chel - a bored knight and his young charge Prince Tarfel - whom Chel has sworn to protect are on the run from assassins. But who are friends and who are foe?
I loved the characters, especially Lemon and her banter, and look forward to catching up with the Hawks in the next book.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Chel is sworn to serve his odious step-uncle, but a chance encounter with Prince Tarfel whisks him away on an unexpected adventure, in the company of mercenaries and killers.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Vedren Chel has to serve his step-uncle - a coward who avoids all conflict; so Chel's life is made up of running around with his clothes, and never having a chance to improve his station. Until the city his is in falls under attack, and Chel is suddenly honour-bound to get soft and stupid Prince Tarfel to safety.
His reward is an even bigger challenge, increasing danger and getting so many injuries, it becomes a normal thing.
Chel and a reluctant Tarfel end up being escorted by the Black Hawk Company to a mysterious benefactor. It's a good job these killers are so highly-trained, as everyone is trying to kill the missing prince, along with anyone who gets in their way.

I really enjoyed this story. The Black Hawks are a band of foul-mouthed, opinionated, unforgiving bastards. I really think this book was going for the record number of f*cks in any one piece of literature. The swearing was fantastically creative and British-tinged. If you don't like swearing, this is not the book for you.

Despite starting as the Black Hawks prisoner, Chel has to trust them, and in turn, help them. With the constant attacks, they need every man (including the weaklings) to survive.
The rate at which danger cropped up and attacked them did become a little overdone. They seemed to stumble from one to the next.
With the constant action scenes, and the Black Hawks Company in a habit of all talking over each other, and referring to their colleagues by a variety of insults and nicknames, does make it hard to follow sometimes.

The ending was very strong, and there was a twist that I definitely did not see coming! I don't want to say anything and spoil it.

I really enjoyed this, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.